India's lunar rover, named 'Pragyan', which means wisdom in Sanskrit, is poised to embark on a pioneering mission of lunar discovery through Chandrayaan-3, if the lander module named Vikram lands correctly this time.
During Chandrayaan-2, when the Vikram lander crash landed on Moon in 2019, the Pragyan rover was damaged along with the lander module and couldn’t set its wheels on the Lunar surface. If Vikram lands successful on August 23, this would be the first time that we would be able to witness made-in-India Pragyan rover driven on the terrains of the lunar surface.
Seated within the lander module, this six-wheeled rover, weighing 26 kg, awaits its moment to shine on the Moon's enigmatic terrain.
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Upon a successful soft landing of the Vikram lander on the Moon, Pragyan will come to life. It will be the communicator-in-chief, transmitting its findings back to Earth via the lander. It has a rectangular chassis mounted atop a six-wheel rocker-bogie drive assembly.
Pragyan is no ordinary rover; it's armed with scientific payloads that are set to redefine our understanding of the lunar surface. Armed with the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS), Pragyan is constructed for comprehensive chemical analysis.
Magnesium, aluminium, silicon, potassium, calcium, titanium, and iron — these elements are Pragyan's quarry. It will meticulously investigate their presence on the Moon, contributing to our understanding of the lunar makeup.
Contrary to popular belief, the Moon does possess an atmosphere, albeit a tenuous one. Pragyan aims to fathom this delicate balance through the day-night cycle, observing atomic interactions and charged particles near the surface. It aspires to decode the dynamic nature of this ethereal atmosphere.
Pragyan will boldly probe the electrical and thermal attributes of the lunar regolith, peering up to 10 cm beneath the surface. A unique method involving electrical current and conductivity measurements will unveil Moon's geological secrets.
Pragyan's mission life mirrors the lunar day, approximately 14 Earth days. Yet, the Sun dictates its rhythm. Once the lunar night descends, Pragyan will endure the cold and dark, devoid of power. With the lunar sunrise comes the hope of revival, as the rover endeavours to resume its duties.
Pragyan's mission, while intricate and ambitious, is an endeavour that echoes the spirit of exploration. Its success would place it among a select few lunar rovers that have ventured forth to unearth the Moon's secrets.
As Pragyan embarks on its mission, it aims not only to gather data but also to contribute to the collective wisdom about our lunar neighbour, uncovering mysteries that lie beneath the lunar veil.